Display unit

ABSTRACT

A display unit comprises a display card with an upwardly open container at the front of the display card having side walls which project through slots in the display card and have integral extensions disposed rearwardly of the display card to form an easel for maintaining the display card and container substantially erect on a supporting surface.

United States Patent 1 1 Freedman June 19, 1973 [54] DISPLAY UNIT 1,463,585 7 1923 Kellogg 40 124.1 1,536,445 5/1925 Maupal 40/124.l 75 Inventor: William Freedman, New Ymk, 2,115,243 4/1938 Schmidt 40/124.1 N.Y. 3,292,290 12/1966 Potter 206/79 X Freedman Cut-Outs Inc. New [73] Asslgnee York NX- Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examinpr wenceslao J. Contreras [22] Filed! 1, 1971 Attorney-Lewis H. Eslinger, Alvin Sinderbrand and [2]] Appl. No.: 203,645 Curtis, Morris & Safford 52 us. c1. 40/124.1 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. G091 1/00 A p y unit ompri e a display card with an up [58] Field of Search 211/73; 248/459; w ly p n ontainer at the front of the display card 40/124.1, 152.1 having side walls which project through slots in the display card and have integral extensions disposed rear- [56] R f s Cited wardly of the display card to form an easel for main-.

UNITED STATES PATENTS taining the display card and container substantially 903,050 11/1908 Booth 248/459 erect a Suppmtmg surface 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmmuu 1 9191s ,739,551 1 sum 1 0r 2 IN VEN TOR WILLIAM B. FREEDMAN ATTORNEY PAIENTED 3.739511 SIIEEI 2 0f 2 FIG. 3.

\ I I! N 2. 49 47 W 19 i 91" I t 0 is 30 I H 32 mvsuron mum a. FREEDMAN av ATTORNEY DISPLAY UNIT This invention relates generally to a display unit, and more particularly is directed to a display unit having a display card for exhibiting an advertising or sales message, a dispensing container for merchandise or leaflets and an easel structure by which the display card and container may be maintained in a substantially erect position on a supporting surface.

In most existing display units of the described character, that is, having a display card, a container and an easel structure, as aforesaid, the container and the easel structure are each formed separately from the display card and then secured to the front and back, respectively, of the display card, for example, by adhesive or by stapling, so that the separate formation and the subsequent assembling together of the display card, container and ease] structure result in an inherently relatively costly display unit. In an attempt to reduce the cost of display units of the described character, it has been proposed, for example, as disclosed in detail in US Pat. No. 3,292,290, issued Dec. 20, 1966, to RC. Potter, to provide a display unit consisting of a display card and an upwardly opening container which is disposed in back of the lower portion of the display card and formed integrally with the latter to contain merchandise or leaflets having their upper portions extending forwardly through a slot or opening in the display card to be grasped in front of the display card for removal from the container. With the foregoing construction, it is intended that the container positioned in back of the display card should also function to support the unit in an easel-like fashion. However, it has been found that the foregoing display unit is disadvantageous in that the positioning of the dispensing container in back of the display card results in some difficulty in removing merchandise or leaflets from such container through the slot or opening provided in the display card. Further, in such display unit, the merchanidse or leaflets to be removed from the dispensing container through the slot or opening in the display card have to be pulled forwardly and upwardly during such removal and this has a tendency to topple the display card in the forward direction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a display unit of the described character which avoids the abovementioned disadvantages of the previously proposed display units.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a relatively inexpensive and easily fabricated and erected display unit which includes a display card, a container at the front of the display card for dispensing merchandise or leaflets and an easel structure extending rearwardly from the display card for maintaining the display unit in an erect position on a supporting surface.

Another object is to provide a display unit, as aforesaid, in which at least the dispensing container and the easel structure are formed of a single piece of folded cardboard or pasteboard which may be integral with or joined to the display card.

Still another object is to provide a display unit as aforesaid, in which the dispensing container at the front of the display card and the easel structure projecting rearwardly from the display card are both engageable with the supporting surface so as to resist toppling of the display card either forwardly or rearwardly from its substantially erect position.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a display unit comprises a display card having a pair of later ally spaced apart slots extending upwardly therein from adjacent the lower edge of the card, and an upwardly opening container at the front of the display card including a bottom wall extending forwardly from the display card adjacent the lower edge of the latter in the region between the slots, a front wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and being spaced forwardly from the display card, and side panels. extending rearwardly from the opposite side edges of the front wall and passing through the slots, such side panels having forward portions constituting side walls of the container and integral extensions of the side walls projecting rearwardly from the display card to constitute an easel for maintaining the display card and container substantially erect on a supporting surface.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display unit embodying this invention and which is shown in its erected condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the display unit of FIG. 1, but shown in its flat condition; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 3, but showing another embodiment or modification of the display unit according to this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a display unit 10 according to this invention generally comprises a display card 11 which may have an advertising or sales message printed on its front surface, an upwardly opening container 12 at the front of the display card 1 1, and an easel structure 13 extending rearwardly from the displaycard and which in accordance with this invention, is formed integrally with at least the container 12. Display card 11, container 12 and ease] structure 13 of display unit 10 according to this invention are all conveniently formed of cardboard or pasteboard so as to be economically fabricated by conventional die cutting and scoring techniques.

As shown particularly on FIG. 3, display card 11 is formed with a pair of laterally spaced apart slots 14 extending upwardly therein from adjacent the lower edge 15 of card 1 l. Slots 14 are preferably substantially parallel to each other along major portions of their lengths and have angled upper end portions 14a which, as shown, may be inclined toward each other. Further, as shown, the lower ends of slots 14 are preferably spaced upwardly from lower edge 15 of the display card so that the lower edge portion of display card 11 is continuous across the entire width thereof.

The container 12 of display unit 10 according to this invention is shown to include a bottom wall 16 (FIG. 2) extending forwardly from display card 11 adjacent lower edge 15 in the region of the latter between slots 14, a front wall 17 extending upwardly from bottom wall 16 and being spaced forwardly from display card 11, and side panels 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending rearwardly from the opposite side edges of front wall 17 and passing through slots 14. The side panels 18 are shown to have forward portions which constitute side walls 19 of container 12 and integral extensions 20 of the side walls 19 which project rearwardly from the display card to constitute the easel structure 13 for maintaining display card 11 and container 12 substantially erect on a supporting surface.

As shown particularly on FIG. 3, bottom wall 16, front wall 17 and side panels 18 may be formed as integral parts or sections of a die-cut cardboard or pasteboard blank 21 which is formed separately from display card 11, with bottom wall 16 and front wall 17 being foldably joined to each other along a score or fold line 22 and with side panels 18 being foldably joined to front wall 17 along score or foldlines 23. The blank 21 is further shown to include a tab section 24 foldably joined to bottom wall 16 along a score or fold line 25 and which is securely attached to the lower edge portion of card 11 between slots 14 so that the fold line 25 substantially coincides with lower edge 15 of the display card. The attachment of tab 24 to card 11 may be effected adhesively, or by staples 26, as shown.

Alternatively, as shown on FIG. 4, the entire display unit according to this invention may be formed of a single blank or piece of cardboard or pasteboard which is suitably die cut and scored so that bottom wall 16 is integrally joined to display card 11 at a score or fold line 24a which constitutes a portion of the lower edge 15 of the display card. The one-piece construction illustrated on FIG. 4 has the obvious advantage of eliminating the operations required for attachment of the separately formed blank 21 to the card 11 on FIG. 3. However, when walls 16 and 17 and side panels 18 are provided as integral parts of the blank 21 cut separately from display card 11 and then assembled to the latter, as on FIG. 3, the front surface of display card 11 and the surfaces of front wall 17 and side panels 18 which are directed outwardly in the erected condition of display unit 10, as on FIG. 1, can all be printed in a single printing operation on one side of a pasteboard sheet or web prior to the die cutting of each display card 11 and the associated blank 21 from such sheet or web. Of course, in the latter case, the blank 21 will be inverted or turned over relative to display card 11 in preparation for the attachment to the latter as shown on FIG. 3.

Whether display unit according to this invention is formed of two separately cut pieces which are thereafter joined together as on FIG. 3, or of a single blank or piece of pasteboard as on FIG. 4, such display unit 10 is erected by folding bottom wall 16 forwardly relative to display card 11 along fold line 25 or 25a, folding side panels 18 relative to wall 17 about fold lines 23 so that the side panels are substantially at right angles to the plane of wall 17 and are directed rearwardly therefrom as wall 17 is folded upwardly about fold line 22 relative to bottom wall 16. As front wall 17 is folded upwardly relative to bottom wall 16, extensions 20 of side panels 18 are guided rearwardly through the respective slots 14 in display card 11.

As shown particularly on FIG. 3, the edges 27 of side panels 18 which extend from the intersections of the ends of fold line 22 with fold lines 23 form obtuse angles a with respect to the adjacent side edges 28 of bottom wall 16 in the flat condition of the display unit, and each of the side panels 18 has a cutout 29 in its edge 27, with depth of such cutout 29 being substantially equal to the distance by which the lower ends of slots 14 are spaced from the lower edge of card 11. Further, each of side panels 18 has an arcuate edge 30 extending from the outer end of its edge 27 and leading to a rounded tab 31 which projects beyond edge 30 at one side of a notch 32. A projection 33 is provided at the other side of notch 32 and extends beyond the rounded tab 31, as shown on FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be noted that the edge 34 of each cutout 29 extends generally parallel to the adjacent fold line 23 and is substantially in line with the notch 32 of the respective side panel 18, with such edge 34 and notch 32 defining the demarkation between the forward portion which defines a side wall 19 and the extension 20 which defines the easel structure 13.

When front wall 17 is folded upwardly relative to bottom wall 16 during the erection of display unit 10, as described abofe, the cutout 29 of each side panel 18 re ceives the portion of display card 11 between the lower end of the respective slot 14 and the lower edge 15 and, as the extension 20 passes rearwardly through the respective slot 14, the arcuate edge 30 of extension 20 is disposed no higher than the upper end of the major portion of the slot 14 which is parallel to the major portion of the other slot. However, as front wall 17 approaches a position substantially parallel to the plane of display card 11, the rounded tab 31 of each panel 18 is laterlly flexed and forced through the angled upper end portion 14a of the respective slot 14. When such rounded tab 31 emerges rearwardly from the angled upper end portion 14a of the respective slot, as on FIG. 2, such rounded tab 31 resiliently returns to the plane of the remainder of the respective side panel 18 so that card 11 adjacent the upper end portion 14a of each slot 14 is locked in the notch 32 of the respective side panel 18. Since the projection 33 of each side panel 18 extends beyond rounded tab 31, as previously mentioned, such projection 33 seats against the front surface of card 11 and linits the rearward movement of the respective side panel 18 through slot 14 at the position shown on FIG. 2. In such position of each side panel 18, front wall 17 is substantially parallel to the plane of display card 11, and bottom wall 16 is substantially coplanar with the edges 27 of side panels 18, that is, with the bottom edges of side walls 19 and of extensions 20 which constitute the easel structure 13. Accordingly, the bottom edges of extensions 20 constituting the easel structure 13 are engageable with a supporting surface in back of display card 11, while the bottom wall 16 and the bottom edges of side walls 19 are also engageable with that supporting surface in front of display card 11. In view of the foregoing, the display card 11 is maintained substantially erect in a stable fashion, that is, in a manner to resist toppling of the display card either rearwardly or forwardly.

Since container 12 is disposed in front of display card 11 in the erected condition of display unit 10, merchandise or leaflets disposed in container 12 can be easily removed upwardly from such container at the open top of the latter. If it is desired to return display unit 10 to its original flat condition shown on FIG. 3, it is only necessary to flex the rounded tabs 31 of extensions 20 inwardly toward each other so as to permit the forward passage of such tabs 31 through the angled upper end portions 14a of slots 14 while front wall 17 of container 12 is swung forwardly and downwardly to effect removal of side panels 18 from slots 14. Following such removal of side panels 18 from slots 14, walls 16 and 17 can be flattened with respect to each other and with respect to display card 11, and side panels 18 can be unfolded outwardly with respect to wall 17.

It will be apparent from the above description of display units according to this invention that such display units may be formed of one, or at most two pieces of die-cut and scored pasteboard or cardboard and may be erected in a simple fashion so as to provide the desired display card 11 having a container 12 for merchandise or leaflets at the front of the display card and an easel structure 13 extending rearwardly from the display card for holding the latter in a substantially erect position.

Although illustrative embodiments of this invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A display unit comprising a display card having a pair of laterally spaced apart slots extending upwardly therein from adjacent the lower edge of said card, said slots being substantially parallel to each other along major portions of their lengths and having angled upper end portions; and an upwardly opening container at the front of said display card including a bottom wall extending forwardly from said display card adjacent said lower edge in the region of the latter between said slots, a front wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and being spaced forwardly from said display card, and side panels extending rearwardly from the opposite side edges of said front wall and passing through said slots, said side panels having forward portions constituting side walls of said container and integral extensions of said side walls projecting rearwardly from said display card to constitute an easel for maintaining said display card and container substantially erect on a supporting surface, each of said side panels further having an upwardly opening notch in the upper edge thereof between the respective forward portion and integral extension thereof for locking engagement with said angled upper end portion of the respective slot.

2. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said bottom wall is foldably joined to said display card, said front wall is foldably joined to the forward edge of said bottom wall and said side panels are foldably joined to said front wall to permit the substantially flat disposition of said display unit upon the removal of said side panels from said slots.

3. A display unit according to claim 1, in which each of said slots has its lower end spaced upwardly from said lower edge of said display card, and each of said side panels has a cutout in the lower portion of said integral extension thereof to permit the extension of said integral extension through the respective slot 4. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said display card is constituted by a first piece of pasteboard, and said bottom and front walls and said side panels are defined by foldably joined respective sections of a second piece of pasteboard which further has a tab section foldably joined to the bottom wall section and being secured to said first piece adjacent said lower edge of the display card.

5. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said display card and said bottom and front walls and said side panels are all integral parts of a single piece of pasteboard.

6. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said bottom wall and the bottom edges of said side walls of the container are coplanar with. the bottom edges of said integral extensions to provide for engagement with said supporting surface in front, as well as in back of said display card. 

1. A display unit comprising a display card having a pair of laterally spaced apart slots extending upwardly therein from adjacent the lower edge of said card, said slots being substantially parallel to each other along major portions of their lengths and having angled upper end portions; and an upwardly opening container at the front of said display card including a bottom wall extending forwardly from said display card adjacent said lower edge in the region of the latter between said slots, a front wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and being spaced forwardly from said display card, and side panels extending rearwardly from the opposite side edges of said front wall and passing through said slots, said side panels having forward portions constituting side walls of said container and integral extensions of said side walls projecting rearwardly from said display card to constitute an easel for maintaining said display card and container substantially erect on a supporting surface, each of said side panels further having an upwardly opening notch in the upper edge thereof between the respective forward portion and integral extension thereof for locking engagement with said angled upper end portion of the respective slot.
 2. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said bottom wall is foldably joined to said display card, said front wall is foldably joined to the forward edge of said bottom wall and said side panels are foldably joined to said front wall to permit the substantially flat disposition of said display unit upon the removal of said side panels from said slots.
 3. A display unit according to claim 1, in which each of said slots has its lower end spaced upwardly from said lower edge of said display card, and each of said side panels has a cutout in the lower portion of said integral extension thereof to permit the extension of said integral extension through the respective slot.
 4. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said display card is constituted by a first piece of pasteboard, and said bottom and front walls and said side panels are defined by foldably joined respective sections of a second piece of pasteboard which further has a tab section foldably joined to the bottom wall section and being secured to said first piece adjacent said lower edge of the display card.
 5. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said display card and said bottom and front walls and said side panels are all integral parts of a single piece of pasteboard.
 6. A display unit according to claim 1, in which said bottom wall and the bottom edges of said side walls of the container are coplanar with the bottom edges of said integral extensions to provide for engagement with said supporting surface in front, as well as in back of said display card. 